New Additions 'Felt' in Hope U's Boutique

We have some new additions to our Hope University Boutique inventory.  They are beautiful felt earrings and necklaces made by the students in Lisa's Felting Class.  There are wonderful colors and textures in these unique pieces of wearable art.  Here we have some photos of hand felted earrings.  Look forward to photographs of the class making felt and perhaps even wearing felt.  These and so many more items will be featured at our boutique on the night of the Christmas Program, information to the left in the 'Upcoming Events' box.  Don't forget the boutique opens early at 5:00pm before the show.  So be sure to get there early for the best selection.  These amazing pieces are not to be missed and will sell out fast! Get your own piece one of a kind wearable felt art, exclusively available at the Hope University Boutique.  If you are interested in any of these pieces and would like to purchase them before the show, you can call us at (714) 778-4440 to inquire.

Halloween at Hope U.

Hope University's Halloween party was a blast!  Fun was had by all.  We were treated to a puppet show, put on by student Frank Luna with an improvisational  performance assisted by Miguel Aldaz.  There was a costume contest and parade, a doughnut eating contest followed by a dance with music DJ'd by Hope U's very own spinning DJ, Tom Veltman.

Amy (Williams Syndrome)  as a Kitty Cat

Carol (NOS) as a Nurse

Sharon (NOS) as a Sheriff

Terry ( Down's Syndrome) as a Lady Bug

Karen (Down's Syndrome) and Chris (NOS) showing off their awards

Shadow (Delores, Down's Syndrome) with her hand in the 'feely box' with Hope U instructor Shelley as Cesar waits.

Here are some photos of the students, costumes and fun.

Exquisite Creatures

In November several of our students' artwork will be featured at a show entitled 'Exquisite Creatures'.  This show takes a spin on the art form of 'Exquisite Corpse'.  This show will be held at the George V. Daneff Gallery,  3962 N. Studebaker road.  # 206, Long Beach CA, 90808.  The opening reception will be on Nov. 5th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm and the show will run until January 25th, 2011.
Some of the Hope University artists included are, Frank Luna, Delores (Shadow) Franks, Sharon Mauck, Jim Lin, Miguel Aldaz, Fred Mezzo and Tammy Grant.
Here are a few pieces of the Exquisite Creature.  You could print them up and add your own!

 Those  Hope University artists have really created some Exquisite Creatures!

Defining Ourselves/CORE 6 Art Exhibit

"Six years running, the CORE exhibit continues to create its own path for artists with disabilities from around the world.  CORE is a space for common bonds and promotes visibility through a diverse art forum.  Curated by Seth Pringle, First St. Gallery Manger and Rebecca Korin."

Several of our students had artwork chosen for this show, we have them here for you to view.  The talent displayed in these Hope University students work is indicative of this populations abilities.  We are very proud of all the artists here at Hope.
There will be many more amazing pieces up at the show, we do hope you will be able to visit and enjoy them all.  

Opening Reception for CORE 6, Defining Ourselves
Oct. 29th, 2010, from 6:00 to 9:00pm
The Edgemar Center for the Arts
2437 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405-3539
Exhibit dates: Oct. 29th - Nov. 29th, 2010

Love by Amy Lacher

Ben Simendinger, Print

Cesar Gonzales, untitled

Darren Petersen, Tree

Fred Mezzo, Accordion

Jennifer Doyle, American Flag

Jim Lin, Dragon

Joanna Buon-Cristiani, Piano Keys

Miguel Aldaz, Arnold

Sharon Mauck, Red Head Clown

Beau Monde Float Fotos

Our last performance of Beau Monde Float was amazing and beautiful.  Here we have a few photos from that performance.  You see Karen as 'Eternity' meeting the Robot.  Her costume was created by the students and staff from paper sculpture, crochet, yarn and painted tubes.  Karen looks so serene as she holds the Earth in her arms and meets the Robot face to face.
We also have a wonderful photo of the stage with the Hand Bell Choir playing.  The students of Hope University practice twice a week to perfect their hand bell techniques.  It can be quite magical to hear them play.
'Everybody is a Parade' was punctuated by over sized paper sculptures, created by the students, like this one of a butterfly.  Richard, Mikki, Cathy and Tom sing the accompanying song as Frank, Rene and Karen bring in the parade.

Three Day Weekend!

This coming weekend is a holiday, we are off on Monday for Columbus Day. The Hope U students are excited to have an extra day to do with as they please. Here we have some students having fun on field trips, to the mall and the Orange County Fair. Margaret on a swing ride, Cathy and Paul at the mall, Lori, Michelle and Tom waving at the camera outside the mall in Santa Ana California, lastly several students on a rocket at the Orange County fair this summer.
If you are looking forward to a long weekend and need some ideas, the Hope U students have these suggestions:

"Work on an art project."
Darren Petersen

"Rest and take it easy."
Howard Miller

"Have a barbecue."
Karen Leeb

"Go to Disneyland!"
Cathy Acton

"Visit with neighbors and practice basketball."
Chris Friedman

"Sleep in and watch cartoons."
Rene Smith

We hope everyone has a terrific weekend, long or not.

Beau Monde Float, A Beatiful Success!

All of the hard work and day long rehearsals certainly paid off for the students of Hope University, Saturday, September 25th at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton California.
The show was amazing, the students were all shining stars on the stage.
Here are two photos of the students rehearsing dances with guest artist Marco Schindelmann.
Here is what some of the Hope University students said about the show:
"I liked my costume because it hung down my back like a tail."
Karen Leeb
"I liked aria that I sang in."
Cathy Acton
"The drum circle outside of the theater before the show, I liked drumming."
Christopher Friedman
"Playing the bells was my favorite."
Margaret Kelley
"I liked dancing on stage, throwing paper airplanes into the audience and holding up a doily."
Rene Smith
"I got to hold up one of the big fish and make it go across the stage, I liked doing that."
Dolores (Shadow) Franks
"Using the rope to dance with Marco."
Jennifer Doyle
"I really liked moving my arms in the solo dance."
Crystal Serna
Congratulations to all of the students in the show, it was an amazing performance by a group of amazing people.

Disability Spotlight ...PKU

What is PKU? By Virginia E. Schuett, MS, RD, Director, National PKU News

PKU (phenylketonuria), in its “classic” form, is a rare, inherited metabolic disease that results in mental retardation and other neurological problems when treatment is not started within the first few weeks of life. When treatment is begun early and well-maintained, affected children can expect normal development and a normal life span. (Not all elevations of blood phenylalanine require treatment; any child with a level less than 6 mg/dl does not need to be on a special diet and is not risk for mental retardation.) Until recently, the only treatment was a very strict diet that limits the amino acid, phenylalanine. Now, however, there is a drug called Kuvan that can help in some cases.

Excerpt from The National PKU news.

One of the students at Hope University has PKU. Her name is Cathy Acton. Cathy has an amazing singing voice, many have likened her to Barbara Streisand or Patsy Cline. She has been performing since the '70s. She is one of the lead singers in the Hope University Group, The Hi-Hopes.

Having PKU means that Cathy has to eat differently from people without the disease. She cannot have steak, a cheeseburger, chicken or fish. So she follows a strict vegetarian diet. Some of her favorite allowed foods are corn on the cob, her Mother's cooking and broccoli slaw with ramen noodles.

Cathy enjoys singing, knitting, crocheting, acting, traveling and reading books about the British Royals.
She is currently working on a recording called 'Cathy Celebrates England' a CD of songs that were either sung by British artists or written by British composers. Some of the songs on the CD will be 'Yesterday', 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'Feed the Birds'.

Having PKU and adhering to the diet have been difficult at times for Cathy, fortunately with the latest research a pill has been created to help those with PKU to be able to eat more foods with protein. Kuvan was developed by the pharmaceutical company Biomarin.

Cathy sure has not let her disability slow her down! She has traveled to England, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico and Canada. She loves to travel and hopes to do much more in her future. Scotland may be next on her list!

Her favorite color is purple and she loves to go to tea houses for tea and scones. She had her last birthday party at 'Paris in a Cup' at the circle in Old Towne Orange Ca.

Cathy's philosophy is "Don't let anything stand in your way." Cathy sure has not let anything stand in her way, and we look forward to many more performances from her.

Thanks Cathy Acton, a woman with PKU.

Students Rehearse for Beau Monde Float

Beau Monde Float is coming up fast! The staff and students of Hope U are rehearsing dances, arranging music and making sets and costumes. Here we have Marvin Castillo playing a traditional Djembe drum, which is used in the opening drum circle pictured. Next are staff, guest artists and students working together on the electronic sound effects. This performance has complex sound and visual components coordinated through laptop computers. The music is evocative and haunting. The visuals are a compilation of student artwork, movement and sounds. An origional score was created by the guest artists from MLuM. The sets were designed, knitted, painted and sculpted by the students at Hope University. The performace is interactive and audience participatory. A wonder to behold! We hope that you will join us for this one of a kind show that will delight your eyes and your heart.

One Night Only Beau Monde Float!

Beau Monde Float is back for one night only! If you missed this amazing performance last year you will not want to miss it this month. Have you ever wondered about 'beauty'? What does it mean? Who is beautiful? What is beautiful? How is it different for different people? How about people with different abilities? What does it look like? How does it sound?
Beau Monde Float, Thirteen Six Views of Sound Beauty may just answer some of these questions and possibly raise several more! This performance is a poignant and passionate celebration of the vitality of the human spirit and the beauty in us all.
Developed through a collaboration between Hope University and the artist group MLuM, Beau Monde Float, Thirteen Six views of Sound Beauty is a profoundly moving experience that takes audiences on a journey exploring the nature of Beauty.
About this original sound and performance art production, Director Marco Schindelmann says, "It doesn't have a narrative. It does not have to be understood, but should simply be experienced. In our culture, people frequently expect to be instructed by 'a greater will' as to what to think, what to buy, what to expect, how to live, etc. Beau Monde Float is about making connections that are personal and not based on outside expectations. Beau Monde Float hopes to present a world in which people create their own personal mythologies and entertainments. It is a dream parade, an aesthetic circus, mystical vaudeville or whatever else the spectator-auditor imagines it to be"
This piece is truly an experience and the Hope University students have created a dream world of beauty to be enjoyed by all. We hope you can attend this performance of Beau Monde Float as it is a celebration which shows us that beauty is and is not always in the eyes of the beholder.
Here we have Tina Gopinath painting set pieces, Lori Slikker knitting part of the stage set and a close up photo from the costume of Karen Leeb who portrays 'Eternity' in Beau Monde Float.
Beauty is Eternal.
Please see the 'Upcoming Events' section at the right of this page for location, times and ticket information.

Hope Handbags

Hope University creates items for sale at our boutique shows and performances. We have a wide array of items ranging from refrigerator magnets to original linoleum block prints. We also have a Cafe Press Shop where you can custom order or choose from items already on display, made from Hope U student artwork. Our most recent addition to the Hope University Boutique is the Hope Handbag! We are very excited about his new item. Each one is as unique as the creator, and the magic happens....in the washer!
Here is the information found on the tag added to each bag.
"The Hope Handbag, Wicked Fun Wool Felt Bags". 'Felted or "fulled" wool bags are created by knitting the bag with wool yarn on large needles, then shrinking the bag to the desired size. Due to the differences in wool, and the shrinking process, each bag is unique. The knit on this bag is very dense, sturdy and easy to care for. Just hand was in cool wash in cool water and then air dry.'

Here are what some of the students are saying about the new Hope Handbags:
"It has very pretty material on it." Darren P.
"I like the color and think it is very furry." Chris F.
"It is so beautiful." Rene S.
"It looks good." Delores F.
"The knitter did a good job." Margaret K.
"I like the blue color on the bottom." Richard G.
Here are some photos of two purses available now from the students at Hope U!

CORE 6 : Defining Ourselves

CORE 6 is a juried art exhibit by artists with disabilities.
The 6th annual CORE exhibit is sponsored by Arts and Services for Disabled, Inc. and the National Arts and Disability Center of UCLA. In it's 6th year, CORE continues to extend its reach to artists nationally and worldwide. The exhibit showcases artwork, literature, and performances by artists with disabilities with the purpose of providing a space for artists, community members, and arts and disability advocates to build common bonds and promote visibility through a diverse art forum. See our 'upcoming events' box on the right for dates, times and venue.
Several Hope University students will be having their work showcased at CORE 6. We are happy to see literature included in this years CORE exhibit. Here we have three Hope University student poems composed in poetry class.


Cleaning Up The Drive Thru At Taco Bell
by Darren Petersen

There is a trash can out there
a big brown trash can
that people put trash in
and a patch of grass
I find things in the grass
cigarette butts
straw wrappers
beer bottles and paper cups.
I feel kind of grungy
picking up gum that is chewed
and just lying on the ground
hot sauce packets
that have been run over or stepped on
the hot sauce squirts out but doesn't go far
pennies and dimes (I have to give them back).
One time I had to help push a car
out of the drive thru.


At Henry's
by Chih Tseng

Saturday is haircut day
He cuts it straight
Henry does
I look in the mirror
to see Henry
Using his scissors
and me
Eating red vine licorice.


My Favorite Shirt
by Tanette Tuttle

Is white
like clouds on a sunny summer day
and Shamu's tummy when he does a flip in the air
like milk in the morning
bunny's teeth chewing a carrot
cold winter snow
My mom's eyes
Clean smelling clothes, out of the dryer
Socks, thick and tall
Delicious vanilla ice cream
Frosting on a strawberry cake
Dalmatians without spots
Tissues that I cry on.

Awards and Honors for Hope University Students

Tammy Grant and Christie Cook Get An Award at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts.
For the past two years, the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts has selected from work displayed for the Very Special Arts Festival, artworks to be included in their Junior Art Exhibition. This year, works by five Hope University artists were chosen. The artists were: Joanna Buon-Cristiani, Miguel Aldas, Margaret Kelley, Christie Cook and Tammy Grant. One of the Artworks selected won an award, it was a linoleum block print by Tammy Grant that was cut by Christie Cook. It is a portrait of Marge and Homer Simpson entitled, "Marge and Homer".


An Award Winning Drum by Joanna Buon-Cristiani and Sharon Mauck.
Arts and Services for the Disabled, Inc. partnered with REMO Drums for their first ever ArtBeat for Humanity National Exhibit. The exhibit attracted artists with disabilities from throughout the nation to participate in this Juried Art Exhibit. Among the jury members from the music, art and wellness community, was Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead and Joe Lamond, president/CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). This exhibit showcases original artwork on REMO buffalo or frame drums by artists with disabilities, with the purpose of providing a forum for this ancient form of artistic expression, utilizing the drum head as a unique canvas. Thus building common bonds through a shared goal to promote artistic talent, community inclusion and diversity.

Hope University submitted two drums and both were accepted into the show. Each drum features artwork by two artists. One drum has the artwork of Chih Tseng and Tammy Grant.












The other has the artwork of Joanna Buon-Cristiani and Sharon Mauck, this drum won 2nd place! Congratulations to Joanna and Sharon!











"These wonderful images have sprung to life through sensibilities that are pure and honest. They represtn the deepest feeling of an indiviual artist. I salute them."
-Mickey Hart